Twistable gripable exercise device

ABSTRACT

A wrist-grip exercise device is disclosed comprising two partial spheroids interconnected by an elastic central bridge, which partial spheroids may be rotatable axially 90 degrees in opposite directions around a longitudinal axis under the force, with each partial spheroid acting as a graspable handle. In some embodiments the partial spheroids are in the shape of hemispheres. The elastic bridge provides resistance to facilitate exercise and power to return the device to its original shape after being twisted and contorted during use. The elastic central bridge may be an elastomeric polymer material interconnecting the two partial spheroids. In other embodiments the central bridge is a coil spring. In some embodiments the handles are inflatable to facilitate compression grip exercises. In some embodiments the handles are attached to the coil spring by male-female connection system. Another embodiment of the present invention substitutes polyhedrons for the two partial spheroids.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/999,994 by Daniel Vaughan Wilson for “Three Resistance Exercise Devices” filed on Aug. 11, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly relates to a resilient exercise device for building wrist, hand, and forearm strength.

Description of the Related Art

Businessmen and working fathers often lack to the time to exercise at commercial gymnasiums and find it more convenient to exercise at home. Standard exercise equipment is prohibitively large, expensive and cumbersome for home use. Many and varied types of compact exercise devices are available to help replace cumbersome gym equipment in home settings and assist individuals in their efforts to improve general strength, endurance and/or to mitigate specific health issues that need physical therapy, such as exercise bands.

The prior art includes complicated apparati comprising flexible rods, rubber cords and webs, and spring compression devices used for a large variety of conditioning activities such as cardiovascular and spinal therapy, as well as increasing core strength, and strengthening in the upper and lower body muscles. Some exercise devices employ elastomeric resistance as a means of developing or measuring strength. Often they are designed with a very limited exercises or muscle groups in mind, and are constrained by their own components and design to those limited areas. Certain muscles groups, such as the wrist muscles, have very few simple portable devices designed for their exercise or strength measurement, due to the difficulties in designing a simple apparatus that can correctly resist the supinating muscle motions leading to such development and measurement. Many patented portable devices that target difficult areas of the body to exercise such as these are complicated and difficult to find on the market.

There are no handheld devices in the art which target the muscles of a user's wrist, hand and forearm, which a focus on supination, which can be stowed in a space as compact as a drawer. Thus it would be highly beneficial to provide a simple, compact portable device that targets the wrist, hand, and forearm region.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a handheld twistable wrist-grip exercise device. Beneficially, such an exercise device would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a more functional apparatus to consumers.

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparati and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a twistable wrist-grip exercise device comprising two hemispheres affixed to a cylindrical central bridge; each of the two hemispheres having a diameter exceeding the diameter of the central bridge; wherein the central bridge is fabricated from torque-resistant polymeric material; wherein resistance from a user's attempts to torque the hemispheres in opposing axial directions generates strength.

Each of the hemispheres of the device may comprise an exterior surface defining a plurality of recesses for engaging the hands of a user.

A twistable wrist-grip exercise device is also disclosed comprising two interconnected partial spheroids; with the two partial spheroids being interconnected by an elastic central bridge of 0.25 to 11 inches length comprising a twistable resilient material; and wherein the two partial spheroids are grasped as handles, palms facing each other, and temporarily rotated at least 90 degrees in opposite directions around their longitudinal axis by the muscular force of the hands, wrists and forearms; and wherein each partial spheroid handle returns to its original position when the device is not under the force of muscular twisting or contortion,

The two partial spheroids and the twistable resilient material of the central bridge of the spheroid may consist of a single piece of molded polymer and wherein the device may have the appearance of one bisected spheroid.

The elastic central bridge interconnecting the two partial spheroids may form one or more channels in the surface between the interconnected partial spheroids, which channels may appear as the joint between the two interconnected partial spheroids, each channel circumscribing the central bridge axially.

The twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the partial spheroids may be in the shape of an internal third partial spheroid. The two interconnected partial spheroids may be formed of compressible foam contained within a shell of non-porous elastic polymer.

The device may be sufficiently airtight so that when compressed for exercise the internal air is slowly released through an air release hole and under decompression re-inflated through the same or similar hole.

The twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the partial spheroids may comprise a coil spring.

The central bridge embodied by a coil spring may connect to the partial spheroids by inserting the ends of the coil spring into a hole on the stems of the partial spheroids.

The partial spheroids may be inflatable to facilitate compression grip exercises. The partial spheroids may be twisted and moved in relation to one another by a user to strengthen muscles and tendons in the wrist, hand, forearm, and shoulders.

The partial spheroids may be compressed by a user to strengthen muscles and tendons in the wrist, hand, forearm, and shoulders.

A twistable wrist-grip exercise device is also disclosed comprising: two interconnected polyhedron handles, with the two polyhedrons being interconnected by an elastic central bridge of 0.25 to 11 inches length comprising a twistable resilient material; and wherein the two polyhedrons are grasped as handles, palms facing each other, and temporarily rotated at least 90 degrees in opposite directions around their longitudinal axis by the muscular force of the hands, wrists and forearms; and wherein each polyhedron handle returns to its original position when the device is not under the force of muscular twisting or contortion,

The two polyhedrons and the twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the two polyhedrons may comprise a single piece molded polymer device.

The elastic central bridge connecting two polyhedrons may form one or more channels in the surface between the interconnected polyhedrons, which channels may appear as the joint between the two interconnected polyhedrons.

The two connected polyhedrons may be formed of molded compressible foam. The twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the two polyhedrons may comprise a coil spring.

The central bridge embodied by a coil spring may connect to the polyhedrons by inserting the ends of the coil spring into a hole on the stem of the polyhedrons. The interconnected polyhedrons may be twisted and moved in relation to one another by a user to strengthen muscles and tendons in the wrist, hand, forearm, and shoulders.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a stylized twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two hemispheres interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two hemispheres interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two partial spheroids, also being hemispheres, interconnected by a spring coil bridge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two partial spheroids, each resembling a full spheroid, interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two partial spheroids, each resembling a full spheroid, interconnected by a spring coil bridge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two polyhedrons interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with two polyhedrons with a spring coil bridge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device with two spheroids as handles all made of one molded elastic polymer, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the twistable and compressible wrist-grip exercise device wherein the device is sufficiently air tight so that when compressed for exercise the internal air is slowly released through a small air release hole and under decompression re-inflated through that same or similar hole;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the twistable wrist-grip exercise device in the embodiment of a cylindrical polyhedron handles, wherein the handles are interconnected by a central coil spring, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a front perspective view of another style of the twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two interconnected partial spheroids, each resembling a full spheroid, connected by a longer spring coil bridge in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 11B is a front perspective view of another style of the twistable wrist-grip exercise device with its two interconnected partial spheroids, each resembling a full spheroid, connected by a longer spring coil bridge in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a stylized twistable wrist-grip exercise device 100 with its two partial spheroid/hemisphere handles 102 a-b interconnected by a central bridge, with the bridge in the shape of an embedded third internal spheroid, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 104 a-b are applied to the handles 102 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The elastic bridge 106 resists the forces 104 a-b.

The exercise device 100 may be fabricated from any polymeric organic material, including nylon and leather. The exercise device 100 may be inflatable or foam-filled. The exercise device may be fabricated as an integrated piece. The exterior surface of the exercise device 100 may comprise protruding ribs running longitudinally or laterally at evenly-spaced intervals in symmetric and asymmetric fashion, concentric or otherwise.

The exterior surface of the exercise device 100 may define a plurality of oblong recesses for engaging a user's hands or fingers.

In various embodiments, the thickness of the polymeric exterior of the device 100 may vary in thickness, being thicker in portions engaged by a user's hand(s).

In various embodiments, the device 100 in manipulated when a user's twists, torques, or rotates the handle 102 a in opposite axial direction from handle 102 b.

The partial spheroids 102 may also be called hemispheres.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 200 with its two partial spheroids interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 104 a-b are applied to the partial spheroid handles 102 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The elastic bridge 106 resists the forces 104 a-b. The elastic bridge in this embodiment has the form of a channel or groove in the device that simultaneously appears as a joint between the two partial spheroids.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 300 with its two partial spheroids interconnected by a spring coil bridge 305, in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 304 a-b are applied to the partial spheroid handles 302 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The coil spring 305 resists the forces 304 a-b.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 400 with its two partial spheroid handles, each resembling a spheroid itself, interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 404 a-b are applied to partial spheroid handles 402 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The elastic bridge 406 resists the forces 404 a-b.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 500 with its two partial spheroid handles, each resembling a spheroid itself, interconnected by a spring coil bridge 505 in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 504 a-b are applied to the partial spheroid handles 502 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The coil spring 505 resists the forces 504 a-b.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 600 with its two polyhedrons as handles, interconnected by a central bridge, all made of one molded elastic polymer in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 604 a-b are applied to the polyhedron handles 602 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The elastic bridge 605 resists the forces 604 a-b. The elastic bridge in this embodiment has the form of a channel or groove in the device that simultaneously appears as a joint between the two polyhedrons.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 700 with its two polyhedrons as handles, interconnected by a coil spring bridge 705 in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 704 a-b are applied to the handles 702 a-b by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the polyhedron handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. The coil spring 705 resists the forces 704 a-b.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another style of a twistable wrist-grip exercise device 800 with two partial spheroid handles in accordance with the present invention. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 404 a-b are applied to the partial spheroid handles 402 a-b of the device by the hands of user. The user twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction. In this embodiment the polymer device is all made in one mold.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the twistable and compressible wrist-grip exercise device 900 wherein the device is sufficiently air tight so that when handles 902 a-b are compressed by forces 904 a-b for exercise the internal air is slowly released through a small air release hole 907 and under decompression re-inflated through that same or similar hole 908.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the twistable wrist-grip exercise device 1000 in the embodiment of a polyhedron-cylindrical object with the ends having handles 1002 a-b made of molded polymer or other material, wherein the handles are interconnected by a central coil spring 1005. The rotational and counter-rotational forces 1004 a-b are applied to the cylindrical handles 1002 a-b of the device by the hands of user. The user grasps the device with palms facing each other and twists, or torques, the handles in orthogonally opposed directions contorting the handles at least 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis in either direction in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 11A-11B are a front perspective views of another style of the twistable wrist-grip exercise device 1100 with its two interconnected partial spheroids 1102 a-b, each resembling a full spheroid, connected by a longer coil spring bridge 1105 in accordance with the present invention. The partial spheroids 1102 a-b in this embodiment are inflatable via an air inflation holes 1108 a-b and are attached to the spring by inserting the angled male end of the coil spring 1106 into a designed female hole 1107 on the stem 1103 of the partial spheroid.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld exercise device comprising: two hemispheres affixed to a cylindrical central bridge; each of the two hemispheres having a diameter exceeding a diameter of the central bridge; wherein the central bridge is fabricated from a torque-resistant a twistable wrist-grip exercise device comprising polymeric material; wherein resistance from a user's attempts to torque the hemispheres in opposing axial directions generates strength.
 2. The handheld exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the hemispheres comprises an exterior surface defining a plurality of recesses for engaging the hands of a user.
 3. A handheld exercise device comprising: two interconnected partial spheroids, with the two partial spheroids being interconnected by an elastic central bridge of 0.25 to 11 inches length comprising a twistable resilient material; and wherein the two interconnected partial spheroids are grasped as handles, palms facing each other, and temporarily rotated in opposite directions at least 90 degrees along their longitudinal axis by the muscular force of the hands, wrists and forearms; and wherein each partial spheroid handle returns to its original position when the device is not under the force of muscular twisting or contortion.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the two partial spheroids and the twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the partial spheroids consist of a single piece of molded polymer; and wherein and wherein the device has the appearance of one bisected spheroid.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the central bridge interconnecting the two partial spheroids forms one or more channels in the surface between the interconnected partial spheroids, which channels appear as the joint between the two interconnected partial spheroids, each channel circumscribing the central bridge axially.
 6. The device of claim 3, wherein the twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the partial spheroids is in the shape of an internal third partial spheroid.
 7. The device of claim 3, wherein the two interconnected partial spheroids is formed of compressible foam contained within a shell of non-porous elastic polymer.
 8. The device of claim 3, wherein internal air is slowly released through an air release hole under compression and under decompression re-inflated through that same or similar hole.
 9. The device of claim 3, wherein the twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the partial spheroids comprises a coil spring.
 10. The device of claim 3, wherein the central bridge embodied by a coil spring connect to the partial spheroids by inserting the ends of the coil spring into a hole on the stems of the partial spheroids.
 11. The device of claim 3, wherein the partial spheroids are inflatable.
 12. The spheroid of claim 3, wherein the handles of the device are twisted and moved in relation to one another by a user to strengthen muscles and tendons in the wrist, hand, forearms, and shoulders.
 13. The spheroid of claim 3, wherein the device is compressed by a user to strengthen muscles and tendons in the wrist, hand, forearms, and shoulders.
 14. A handheld exercise device comprising: two interconnected polyhedrons, with the two polyhedrons being interconnected by an elastic central bridge of 0.25 to 11 inches length comprising a twistable resilient material; and wherein the two polyhedrons are grasped as handles, palms facing each other, and temporarily rotated at least 90 degrees in opposite axial directions around their longitudinal axis by the muscular force of the hands, wrists and forearms; and wherein each polyhedron handle returns to its original position when the device is not under the force of muscular twisting or contortion.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the two polyhedrons and the twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the two polyhedrons comprise a single piece molded polymer device.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the central bridge interconnecting two polyhedrons forms one or more channels in the surface of the connected polyhedrons, which channels appears as the joint between the two interconnected polyhedrons.
 17. The device of claim 14, wherein the two polyhedrons are formed of molded compressible foam.
 18. The device of claim 14, wherein the twistable resilient material of the central bridge interconnecting the two polyhedrons comprises a coil spring.
 19. The device of claim 14, wherein the central bridge embodied by a coil spring connect to the polyhedrons by inserting the ends of the coil spring into a hole on the stem of the polyhedrons.
 20. The device of claim 14, wherein the polyhedrons are twisted and moved in relation to one another by a user to strengthen muscles and tendons in the wrist, hand, forearms, and shoulders. 